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Muscat – a brief overview

A straggle of whitewashed low-rise building stretching almost 25km along the Omani coastline, recent years have seen Muscat engulf its suburbs in a Dubai-style building frenzy. Unlike the Emirati city, however, most of the newcomers are less than three storeys high, while the historic Muttrah district retains all of its old-world charm.

Just as charming is the old Corniche, a picturesque stretch of seafront fringed by 18th-century balconied buildings and overlooked by the imposing 17th-century Mutrah Fort. But whether you’re in the Old or New Town, Muscat’s friendly locals and surprisingly clean sandy shoreline are bound to please.

National Museum

Thanks to Oman’s past as the hub of an East African trading empire, there’s no shortage of striking jewels, whether on ruby-encrusted necklaces or set in the hilts of the museum’s collection of elaborate swords.

Bait Al-Zubair

Dedicated to Omani life in centuries past, Bait az-Zubair boasts a fine collection of antique household items, as well as an impressive amount of ceremonial daggers and silver jewellery.

Qasr Al Alam

Muscat Oman Show on map

Opening times: Closed to the public

Protected by Forts Al-Jalali and Al-Mirani, the imposing Qasr Al Alam palace is home to Oman’s ruling dynasty and was built on the site of a former British embassy. Huge and sprawling, it is closed to the public but well worth a look.

Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque

Sultan Qaboos Street Muscat Oman Show on map

Opening times: Sat-Thu 0800-1100

The third largest mosque in the world, Muscat’s main place of worship was built by Sultan Qaboos in the 1930s. Home to an impressive crystal chandelier and a vast carpet that took 600 women four years to create, it’s open to non-Muslims but women have to cover up.

Flight and accommodation

Country information

Country overview

Desert camel treks, luxury camping under the stars and 4-wheel drive wadi safaris through mighty canyons are some of the adventures awaiting the visitor to Oman.

From quiet mountain villages, where time has stood still, to magnificent UNESCO forts, swaying date-palm plantations, tempestuous blow holes and beautiful beaches, these are the kinds of images afforded by the fascinating country of Oman.

Geography

The Sultanate of Oman occupies the southeastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula and a total area of 309,500 sq km (119,500 sq miles or roughly the same size as Italy) including the coastal islands of Masirah, Halanyat and Salama, plus Musandam and Madha, which are completely surrounded by the United Arab Emirates.

It is bordered by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the northwest, the Republic of Yemen to the southwest and the United Arab Emirates to the north.

Oman has 2,092 km (1,300 miles) of coastline on the Gulf, Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman. The interior is covered by a vast expanse of desert with around 82% of the landmass occupied by deserts and valleys. The Hajjar mountain range, which occupies around 15% of the country’s landmass, forms an arc extending from the northwest of the country to the southeast. The highest mountain is Jabal Shams, at around 2,980m (9,777ft).

General knowledge

Key facts

Population: 3154134

Population Density (per sq km): 10

Capital: Muscat.

Language

Arabic is the official language. English is widely spoken. Swahili is also spoken by Omani descendents from East Africa. German and French are spoken by some hotel staff while Urdu, Farsi, Hindi and Tagalog are widely spoken by Oman’s large expatriate workforce.

Electricity

General business opening hours

Sun-Thurs 0800-1300 and 1430-1700. Government office hours are Sun-Thurs 0800-1400. All offices are closed on Fridays.

Public holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2016 – December 2017 period.

Note

Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given below are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Some disruption may continue into Eid al-Fitr itself. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha may last up to several days, depending on the region.

Flight and accommodation

Nightlife in Muscat

ListMap

Most of Muscat’s bars are to be found within hotels, with little beyond late-night coffee shops available elsewhere. Those in the market for luxury lounges will be spoilt for choice, and there are plenty of English-style pubs.

Nowhere, however, is cheap.

Trader Vic’s

Al Kharjiya Street Muscat Oman Show on map

The Polynesian-themed Trader Vic’s does cheerful luridly coloured cocktails by the goldfish bowl.

John Barry Bar

Shatti Al Qurm Muscat Oman Show on map

Nice for a quiet drink, the John Barry Bar boasts live piano music and a varied drinks menu.

Rock Bottom Cafe

Al Qurm St Qurm Muscat Oman Show on map

Muscat’s only bar specialising in live rock ‘n’ roll also doubles as a steakhouse situated in the Ramee Guestline Hotel.

Kargeen

Al Bashair St Muscat Oman Show on map

There’s no alcohol on the menu but there’s a great atmosphere and plenty of strong coffee.

Flight and accommodation

Calendar of events

Extreme Sailing Series (Regatta)

Once a year, you can follow the exciting Extreme Sailing Series race from the white sandy beach in Almouj, as sport catamarans compete for the trophy. Spectators pay no admission to watch the event and have the refreshing waves of the Gulf of Oman close at hand if they feel the need to cool down.

Ramadan

6 June – 6 July 2016

Venue: Throughout the city.

During the Holy Month of Ramadan tents are erected in hotel gardens for people to break their fast after sundown with a selection of Omani favourites like harees (thick cereal dish) and sweetmeats like halwa (sugar and rose water confection).

Salalah Festival

When the monsoon-like Khareef rains begin to fall, the normally barren landscape around Salalah is transformed into a verdant paradise. Another good reason to look forward to this season is the Salalah Festival, which offers its visitors a variety of cultural events, concerts, shopping opportunities and sports events.

Muscat Festival

The biggest event in Muscat (if not Oman) is this annual month-long festival held in several outdoor venues around the city. The festival showcases Omani and neighbouring Arabic culture with poetry recital, traditional dancing and craft displays. The event also attracts dance and acrobatic acts from other countries and includes fireworks and shopping stalls, mainly from the subcontinent and Far East.

Tour of Oman

With the aim of promoting and supporting the country’s young generation of athletes, the Tour of Oman cycle race was held for the first time in 2010. It not only welcomes young competitors, but also gives seasoned cyclists the chance to test their strength amid the fascinating scenery around Muscat.

All information subject to change. Please check the dates on the relevant event organizer’s website.

7 days forecast

Climate & best time to visit Oman

Because Oman is so large and the terrain diverse, the climatic conditions are as varied as the geography. The most popular time to visit is from October to April when the weather is warm and sunny and temperatures range from a very pleasant 25°C (77°F) to around 35°C (95°F) during the day. It is cooler at night, ranging in temperature from 17°C (63°F) to 19°C (66°F).

From May to August, it is very hot and humid at the coastal areas, while the interior generally remains hot and dry. Between May and September, the southern Dhofar region has its own microclimate. Known as the khareef, the area catches the Indian Ocean’s monsoon season and temperatures can be 10-15°C (18-27°F) lower than the rest of the country. Most of the rain falls during the winter months and varies according to the region. Other than in Dhofar, it is rare to see rain between May and November. The coastal areas and the interior plains average 20-100mm (0.8-4 inches) of rainfall annually but this can rise to around 900mm (35 inches) in the mountains. It is common to see snowfall on the highest mountain peaks during the winter.

Flight and accommodation

Phone calls & Internet

Telephone/Mobile Telephone

Dialing code: +968

Telephone

Public telephones use phonecards which are available from petrol stations, supermarkets and some smaller shops. They are available in denominations of 1.5, 3 and 5 Rials. It is cheaper to make outgoing international calls between 2100 and 0700.

Flight and accommodation

Shopping in Muscat

Key Areas

Like the rest of the Gulf, Muscat is fond of its mega malls but there are plenty of traditional shopping spots to browse. As you’d expect for a nation built on trade, Muscat’s ancient Mutrah Souk is a treasure trove of colourful babouche slippers, silverware and spices, including local favourite frankincense. Just as unique is the oudh-heavy output of Muscat’s Amouage perfume factory, while Shatti al-Qurm is home to a gallery selling beautiful handmade crafts.

Markets

Mutrah Souk is the main market and sells everything from traditional silver daggers to filigree jewellery and beautifully crafted metal tea sets.

Shopping Centres

Muscat Grand Mall is the biggest and is home to most international chains, as well as a few luxury local boutiques. Also worth a look are the Sultan Centre and the Zakher Shopping Mall.

Flight and accommodation

Traveller etiquette

Social Conventions

Shaking hands is the usual form of greeting. A small gift, either promoting your company or country, is well received. Dignity and respect are key in Omani culture and public criticisms are rare. As far as dress is concerned, it is important that women dress modestly beyond the hotel grounds, ie long skirts or dresses (below the knee) with covered shoulders; men should wear trousers and shirts with sleeves. Tight-fitting clothes should be restricted to hotel restaurants to avoid giving offence, although this is not strictly followed by some Westerners. Shorts should not be worn in public and beachwear is prohibited anywhere except the beach.

Collecting seashells, abalone, corals, crayfish and turtle eggs is also prohibited. Dumping litter is forbidden. It is polite not to smoke in public, but generally no-smoking signs are posted where appropriate; smoking is banned in public places in Muscat. Homosexual behaviour is illegal.

Photography

Visitors should ask permission before attempting to photograph people or their property. ‘No Photography’ signs exist in certain places and must be observed.

Flight and accommodation

Health

Food & Drink

While tap water is generally safe to drink, most Omanis drink bottled water and this is widely available. You can safely drink carbonated drinks in cans and bottles. Outside the capital area and main towns, you should boil or sterilise water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice. Use iodine tablets and portable water filters to purify water if bottled water is not available. Avoid ice cubes in your drinks.

Food bought in the main supermarkets can be regarded as safe. Outside the capital area, milk may be unpasteurised and if so, should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised. Avoid dairy products unless you know they have been pasteurised. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.

It is advisable to avoid food and drinks bought from street vendors. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially before eating. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand gel.

Other Risks

Vaccinations against tuberculosis and hepatitis B are sometimes recommended, the latter particularly for those who might be exposed to blood or body fluids, may have sexual contact with locals or be exposed through medical treatment ie, for an accident.

Flight and accommodation

Visa & Immigration

IATA Travel Centre

The IATA Travel Centre delivers accurate passport, visa and health requirement information at a glance. It is a trusted, centralized source for the latest international travel requirements. The IATA Travel Centre is the most accurate source available because it is based on a comprehensive database used by virtually every airline, and information is gathered from official sources worldwide, such as immigration and police authorities.